selfhelp | [Voice/Action]

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[Voice/Action]

[Okay, so. Post-draft, he's given himself a few days of seclusion and bed-rest (apparently being infected with a zombie virus is exhausting), and even Billy can freely admit to himself that he's been pretty depressed lately, a fact for which he feels no shame considering that depression was well and truly earned. One can only spend so much time fretting, moping, and dwelling on one's own misery for so long, however, and today? He's decided that enough is enough. Billy will be going out today, limping around the village and visiting the people who were on the draft whose fate he's still uncertain of. The ones he can't find or has no reason to actually visit, he'll check with a light location spell, and he'll spend a few hours at Seventh Heaven people-watching out the window while he doodles in a book that Teddy had given him containing a series of patterns (much like this) that resemble inkblogs, and bit by bit Billy's turning them into something like this instead. It's been a tiring week, though, so you could always catch him napping on the table, instead.

At some point he'll attempt to find Peter, and when both a location spell and a teleport fails, he tries to teleport to the apartment he'd been staying at instead, finding it almost completely emptied. All he manages to dig up is a small cartridge that, after a moment of scrutiny, he identifies as a web fluid cartridge. His fanboyish glee at the discovery is tempered by the fact that the empty apartment means one more piece of bad news.

After his visits and window-watching is done, he'll return home to make the announcement, along with one more message-]

Hey out there... just wanted to let his friends know that Peter Parker went home. So... sorry. Yeah.

[Locked to Loki]

...We still on for tomorrow, or do you want to take a break? Because... you know. [Draft. Awfulness all around. He wouldn't blame Loki if he wanted to take a week off.

Later on in the evening he'll be over at Ben's barbeque, if anyone wants to bother him while he's there.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Wow, is he actually sitting with Robin eating and having a calm discussion?

He'll just quietly enjoy this while it lasts, okay...]

What's worse than a mindless, flesh-eating monster?

[Eating and having a calm discussion with a Robin who is also mostly out of uniform. Isn't that like nerd bingo for Billy or something?]

There's always something worse. Even if you can't imagine it yet.

[He'll totally whip up a card for this later.]

I'm sure you'll manage to imagine more worst-case scenarios than most of us can handle. How about I leave the worrying to you?

Won't be the first time I've been responsible for people injected with something malicious. [Loki's working with Slade. It's obvious. It all makes sense now and Robin was too blind to see it until it was too late! Of course!

He just hurts too much to do anything about it yet. Soon. Maybe he'll set Jason on some investigating work later.]

[Wow, Robin, he's so glad he's not a mind-reader. You can practically hear the paranoid gears of his mind working.]

What do you know about Loki, anyway? Just what you've been told by the Avengers?

[He's not accusing - he's not really in any position to defend Loki - but he can't help being curious.]

I don't think Sue counted as an Avenger while she was here.

[That in itself should give enough information about how much he's been informed. Directly, anyway.Stalking potential baddies is kind of his thing.]

Actually, she's an Avenger. Just not one of theirs.

[Answers his question, though.]

I think their Loki is different from the one Sue and I know. Not saying he wasn't a villain or that he's not planning anything - I have know idea if he is or he isn't - but this one seems a lot less... cliche. I think if he was really going to plot all of our demises he'd be less obvious about it.

Nearly crippling the archer isn't obvious enough for you?

[Eyebrows raising so high you can see them over the shades swallowing up most of his face.]

Define "obvious."

[He winces; yeah, he kind of walked into that one.]

He can just argue that as being a retaliation after getting attacked. It seems like it's an obvious villain move, sure, but if you look at the grand scheme of things, it was kinda brilliant: The Avengers made a big deal about him being the bad guy, wanting a truce and all that, and then he goes and publicly reveals that they attacked him first. It actually earned him some sympathy. Not to mention that by not killing Hawkeye, he gave the impression of being merciful.

[How's that for subtleties?]

[. . .

Billy, you've just described half the news that comes out of Metropolis.]

So he brilliantly spins public perception for himself. This makes him more of a hero to you? Do you trust someone if the best thing you can say about him is that he didn't kill someone?

You shouldn't stand up to cheer just because someone decided not to be a murderer today. You of all people should have better standards than that.

[Robin must be feeling better. He's on the cusp of a leader speech.]

Edited 2012-11-15 04:33 (UTC)

[Yeah well Metropolis is shit 8|]

I never said he's a hero. I grew up with heroes, I know what they're supposed to be like. What I'm saying is that he's intelligent- really intelligent. And doing something outright villainous would only limit his options as long as he's trapped like this. What he's doing is mutually beneficial- and he benefits twice-over by looking like the good guy for doing it.

[IS NOT that's where Superman is from and ONE DOES NOT MESS WITH SUPERMAN.]

Which means now is exactly the time to make a subtle move. Inject us all with something. Call it a cure. Cash the chips in later.

You're blind if you don't see what's happening.

[But he's such a goody-two-shoes...]

Just what do you think he put in the cure, exactly? Chemical, or magical? With the number of people who've been involved, you don't think someone would've noticed?

[He can understand being cautious, but this just seems paranoid to him.]

[As they should all aspire to be!]

If I knew what it was, I'd have figured it out already. I'll get back to you when I know what's been missed.

[Because something's definitely been missed. He's not at all paranoid. He's just getting prepared.]

...Well, far as I can tell, it's not magical. Since we got back I've checked for signs of anything weird, and I've come up empty. I'm not as experienced as him, but I know a few tricks.

You're not at a hundred percent either. You might have missed something.

[Especially if his postzombie period has left him as messed up as it has Robin. His built-up energy has been spent quite fully by the cooking/eating effort. He might pass out in his bacon in a few minutes. Please don't judge.]

[Robin if you do that Billy will feel obligated to take you home, and it might get him shot. Bad.]

Will it make you feel any better if I check again in a few days, or are you going to worry about it forever regardless of what happens?

[He can't really blame Robin for wondering about it, though. Loki hasn't exactly endeared himself to the general populace or earned any real trust.]

[This is pretty much why he's still shacking up at Jason's place. He's not really dexterous enough to disengage his own security system.]

Check it as often as you have to. Let me know when you find something. ["When" not "if".]

[Poor Robin. This is why roommates are important, bro.

And he recognizes that "when", too, but opts not to comment.]

I could check you for magic tampering, if you want to be absolutely sure.

[Only if you can trust them. The people Robin trusts in Luceti is a very short list.]

It can wait. Get better first, okay?

[You've got issues, bro.]

Yeah, I can't do it now. Even I know I'm not at my best- but in a few days I'll be okay.

[He's got reasons.]

Good. [He sets his fork down, resting his chin on a hand. He's not passing out as much as he's just giving his eyes a break. He's still totally listening for real!]

[Billy pauses for a moment, waiting, one brow lifted. He reaches out and waves a hand in front of Robin's face, juuuust in case. Did he doze off?]

[KIND OF. But he'd be a terrible Robin if he wasn't used to blindfolded combat techniques. His free hand snaps up to catch Billy's wrist.]

What are you doing?

[Billy jumps, trying to jerk back, though he has to stop with his wrist caught like that.]

Uh- sorry! You looked like you were nodding off, that's all...

[Voice/Action]

[Action] not scrolling either 8D

[Action] we're so good at this

[Action] we are also the best at space

[Action] SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

[Action] getting tired of space

[Action] akai, are you space?

[Action] yes. yes, I am space.

[Action] now we are a family again :O

[Action] /omg yay wait I ran out of lines

[Action] WHAT go back to youtube and experience it again.

[Action] but I have fabulous music playing :c

[Action] Nothing is more fabulous than the space core.

[Action] yeah but I have a rhythm

[Action] nope. not more fabulous.

[Action] STILL YOU CAN ONLY WATCH SPACECORE SO LONG

[Action] lies. space core is eternal

[Action] I found a "space core for 10 hours" video, you are right

[Action] I tend to be right, yes.

[Action] it's oddly addictive...

[Action] it's like nyancat.

[Action] spacespacespacespacespacespacecorespacespace

[Action] that's what it boils down to, yes

[Action] it's kinda catchy

[Action] soothing in its own unique way

[Action] it actually put me to sleep

[Action] that's kind of adorable

[Action] I deceive all with cute

[Action] Sometimes.

[Action]